Helicobacter pylori infection in North-East Poland between 1996 and 2011 on the base of histological examination

Purpose: The aim of the study was to conduct a 15- year (1996-2011) observations on the frequency of Helicobacter pylori stomach infection in patients having performed gastroscopy in the Endoscopy Unit District Hospital of Białystok, Poland Materials and methods: Out of the 27421 patients who underwent a gastroscopy in 1996-1997, 2000- 2001, 2005-2006, and 2010-2011 years were selected 4216 subjects who had performed histological examination of gastric mucosal specimens for H. pylori infection. The mucosal specimens after placed in buffered formalin, were subjected to standard histological procedure, and stained with hematoxylineosin and Giemsa. Results: Stomach infection with H. pylori was 73.36% (1996-1997), 48.60% (2000-2001), 33.61% (2005-2006) and 32.30% (2010-2011); only between the last two 2-year intervals the difference was not significant. Conclusions: The results of current study indicate on steadily declining stomach infection with H. pylori. Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, histology, gastric mucosa